Five surviving members of Monty Python are expected to announce plans to reunite for their first live performances since 1998 at a press conference on Thursday.

[Terry] Jones suggested that a certain motivating force had helped the troupe members overcome any personal animosities that may have developed over the years.

“I’m quite excited about it,” he told the BBC, regarding the planned reunion. “I hope it makes us a lot of money. I hope to be able to pay off my mortgage!”

The first episode of Monty Python’s Flying Circus was broadcast in October 1969. While several of the individuals are still active and successful performers, the average age of the principals is 71.4 and people wonder if they can still deliver laughs as a troupe.

Actor and musician Neil Innes, who appeared in two Pythons’ films quipped in a BBC interview, “The idea of John doing the silly walks with two false hips is very amusing.”